House Passes Human Trafficking Legislation Cosponsored by Cramer

Press Release

Today the U.S. House of Representatives completed a series of eight bills to stop and prevent human trafficking, including legislation Congressman Kevin Cramer helped introduce last week. The bipartisan Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act will prevent trafficking while also providing additional resources for survivors working to recover. This bill along with seven others were approved during the legislative session yesterday and today, completing the second major package of House legislation this year to address human trafficking.

The legislation Cramer helped shepherd in the House takes a three-pronged approach to combat human trafficking. It launches a review of federal and state trafficking prevention activities by the Interagency Task-Force to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, requires an inventory of existing federal anti-trafficking efforts by the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO), and adds support for survivor shelters to Department of Justice grants. Currently, there are just 200 beds available in the United States for underage victims.

"It is impossible to overstate the importance of addressing human trafficking at the highest level of government. The actions we can take at the federal level will have a ripple effect on state and local authorities who are in need of support as they combat this growing international crime," said Cramer.

The remaining seven bills are aimed primarily at training federal officials, state agencies, and local authorities on how to recognize and deal with human trafficking. Specific provisions include updates to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children CyberTipline, improved support for runaway, homeless, and foster care youth, and a streamlining of federal resources to better prioritize the fight against human trafficking.

In May Representatives Cramer and Erik Paulsen (MN-03), and North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem held a roundtable discussion in Williston with law enforcement, social services, victim advocacy groups, and school officials to discuss human trafficking concerns and solutions in the region. The House passed its first series of human trafficking legislation, consisting of five bills, on May 20. The legislation has not yet been taken up by the U.S. Senate.

"I am calling on Senate Democrats to insist their leader, Senator Harry Reid, take up these important bills. If we can't agree to protect victims of human trafficking, then the perpetrators are being protected. Senator Reid needs to let the Senate vote now!" Cramer added.

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